Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 22, 1992 TAG: 9201220074
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: MINNEAPOLIS LENGTH: Medium
'SKINS' GM A MAN WITH MANY PLAN
Charley Casserly has gone from an $8 YMCA room to the penthouse of pro football.When Bobby Beathard was the Washington Redskins' general manager, people threw around the word "genius" as if it were third-and-long.
How sharp is Casserly? He learned from Beathard and the late coach, George Allen, two guys who took "shrewd" in NFL personnel dealings to Super Bowl success.
"The last job I ever thought I would have is this one," said Casserly, who succeeded Beathard as the Redskins' general manager in May 1989. "I learned every facet of the organization. I'm here because of logical progression."
The 'Skins are here for Super Bowl XXVI because of Casserly's talent scouting and trading, as much as anything. While Washington prepares to play Buffalo on Sunday, Casserly hardly can wait for Feb. 2.
That is the date NFL clubs must announce the 37 players they are protecting from Plan B free agency. Casserly has returned the 'Skins to the top of the NFC by using Plan B to the max. Five of Washington's defensive starters turned out B-utiful for Casserly.
When you think NFL GM, Casserly's visage doesn't come to mind. His tousled dark hair drapes over his collar, perpetually uncombed. His ruddy complexion, framed by spectacles, is contrasted by a five-o'clock shadow that speaks volumes on the hours he works.
Joe Gibbs, who cuts and coaches the players Casserly acquires, has another description for the 42-year-old from New Jersey.
"Charley is a bulldog," Gibbs said.
Casserly's work ethic matches his shrewdness. Although he didn't look the part, Casserly was the obvious choice to succeed his old boss when Beathard bolted for San Diego.
In 1977, Casserly was teaching and coaching high school football in Massachusetts. He wrote to every NFL team, seeking employment. Only the Redskins and New England answered.
He took the job in Washington because he was intrigued by Allen. Upon arriving, he learned he would be an unpaid intern.
"I told them I'd work without pay," Casserly said. "After I said it, I wondered if I really meant it."
Casserly, single at the time, packed all of his belongings into his car and moved into an $8-a-night room at the YMCA in Alexandria, Va.
"My original idea was one year with the Redskins, then head into college coaching," Casserly said. "After that one year, George left, and I really wondered what to do.
"We had an assistant coach at the time, Billy Hickman, who helped me make up my mind. Billy said that if a guy would go into scouting and put in the hours and effort he would in college coaching, then he thought he could really be valuable to an organization."
In '82, Casserly became an assistant GM. He is credited with uncovering many of the Redskins' veteran stars, players who, when taken in the draft, made other club officials scratch their heads.
Casserly sold Beathard on center Jeff Bostic and tackle Joe Jacoby, among others. In two drafts as the GM, he has gotten a rookie starter, linebacker Andre Collins, on the second round of the 1990 draft, and third-round rushing steal Ricky Ervins in April 1991. He also dealt for needed defensive line help last season, getting Eric Williams and Tim Johnson.
In the upcoming draft, Washington has two first-round picks - No. 6 from San Diego in a draft-day deal of a year ago, and Nos. 27 or 28, depending on who wins the Super Bowl. Casserly is not showing his cards.
His inner workings with Gibbs also are without the differences that marked the Beathard-Gibbs era in Beathard's last years with the club.
"Joe and I have a good relationship," Casserly said, declining to characterize the Beathard-Gibbs falling out. "I know what he's looking for. Certainly, we have different opinions at times, but we work them out."
Casserly won't talk about the 'Skins' next draft day because it won't be the be-all or end-all for a club making its fourth Super Bowl appearance in a decade.
"Sometimes you elevate a player in your own mind because you think he'll fill a need," Casserly said. "When you do that, it
Note - This is the way the article appeared in the newspaper.